Proportioning Systems

Proportioning Systems
Now you know the benefits and uses of water
additives, especially Class A foam. So how
do we get the concentrate into the water?
The following reviews various proportioning
technologies along with capabilities and
limitations of each

Why Clubs And Racquets With

Larger Heads?

A bigger sweet spot

The Proportioning Sweet Spot

The range in which the proportioner can
deliver acceptable performance

Flow range
Pressure range
Proportioning rates
Foam viscosity
Desired accuracy

Every proportioner has a sweet spot

Size varies by type of system
4

NFPA Accuracy Requirements

For proportioning rates equal or greater than 1%:
- 0% to + 30% or 1 percentage point, whichever is less

For proportioning rates less than 1%:

- 0% to + 40%
Ratio

6%

Allowable Range

6%

6.0 - 7.0%

3%

3.0 - 3.9%

1%

1.0 - 1.3%

0.5%

0.5 - 0.7%

0.2%

0.2 - 0.28%

3%

Lean

1%

Rich
+

30% 20% 10%

10% 20% 30% 40%

Foam Proportioner Design

Manual systems

Automatic systems

Manual Foam Proportioners

Eductors
Around the pump systems
Self-educting nozzles

Eductor Systems

In-Line Eductors
200 psi
Inlet

Eductor

130 psi
Outlet

Check Valve
Metering Valve
Water
Pump

Foam
Concentrate

By-Pass Eductor
200 psi

Shut-Off
Closed

130 psi

Check valve

Water
Pump

Metering valve
Foam
Concentrate

10

Eductors
Capabilities:
Operate over narrow range of flows and pressures

Limitations:

35% pressure loss

Sensitive to pressure changes downstream
Must match flow and nozzle
Nozzle height limited to ten feet
Narrow sweet spot (single flow and pressure point)

11

125 gpm Eductor Cutaway

12

Must Match Flow, Eductor & Nozzle

125 gpm eductor

125 gpm nozzle

13

Eductor - Correct Pressure & Flow

20" of Vacuum

130 psi Outlet

200 psi Inlet

Performance reduction of 35% creates required vacuum

14

Eductor - Incorrect Pressure & Flow

12" of Vacuum

140 psi Outlet

200 psi Inlet

Longer hose lay, increased elevation or nozzle restriction reduces vacuum

15

Eductor - Incorrect Pressure & Flow

No Vacuum

150 psi Outlet

200 psi Inlet

Increasing restriction even more on outlet side can eliminate vacuum

16

Around The Pump Systems

Around The Pump Proportioner

Foam solution from all discharges

Max. 10 psi.
Incoming Pressure
Eductor
Foam
Concentrate

Water
Pump

Shut off Valve

Check Valve
Metering Valve

18

Shut off
Valve

Around The Pump Proportioner

Capabilities:
Foam solution available to all discharges

Limitations:
Maximum incoming pump pressure of 5 to 15 psi
Average operating foam proportioning error of 1 to
1-1/2 percentage points
Pump solely dedicated to foam operation
Narrow sweet spot

19

Around The Pump Eductor

From pump
discharge

Foam concentrate

Eductor
To pump
suction

20

Around The Pump

21

Around The Pump

Class A foam control

22

Class B foam control

Around The Pump

Incoming pressure
less than 12 psi

When flow stops,

immediately turn
metering valve off

23

Self-Educting Nozzles

Self-Educting Nozzles
Monitor
Metering Valve
Control Valve

Foam
Tank
Water
Pump

25

Self-Educting Nozzles
Capabilities:
Large flows at 1%, 3% or 6%
Lower pressure drop than regular eductors, 10% or
less
Increased stream reach
Flexibility in use, not a fixed system

Limitations:
Narrow sweet spot

26

Self-Educting Nozzle
Foam percentage selection

27

Automatic Foam Proportioners

Balanced pressure bladder systems
Balanced pressure pump systems
Electronic direct injection systems

Balanced Pressure Bladder Systems

Balanced Pressure Bladder Systems

Pressure Tank
with Bladder

Three-way
Valve

Concentrate Fill Line

Water Dump
Line

Foam
Concentrate

Metering
Valve
Check
Valve

Water
Pump

Modified Venturi/
Pressure Differential Valve

30

Balanced Pressure Bladder Systems

Capabilities:
Requires water flow to operate proportioner

Limitations:
Operator does not know how much foam is in bladder
Must shut down to refill
Water flow up to 350 gpm and discharge pressure
restrictions
Medium Sweet Spot

31

5 Gallon Portable

32

Differential Valve

33

Panel Mount

34

Balanced Pressure Pump Systems

Balanced Pressure Pump Proportioners

Foam
Tank
Concentrate
Pump

o
r

Pilot-Operated
Balance Valve

Metering Valve
Check
Valve

Check Valve

Modified Venturi
or Ratio Controller
(one per discharge)

Water
Pump

36

Balanced Pressure Pump Proportioners

Capabilities:
Foam concentrate flow to over 300 GPM
Plumbed discharges capable of foam or water
Ability to vary foam concentrate % rates by discharge

Limitations:

Water flow limits

Discharge pressure restriction
Low flow and low percentage operation
Medium sweet spot
37

Metering Valve
ADJUSTING
KNOB

CONCENTRATE
FLOW

POINTER

PLUG

STEM
TO
DISCHARGE
PROPORTIONER
38

Balanced Pressure Pump System

Metering/Shut-Off Valve

39

Ratio Controller
CONCENTRATE
INLET

LOW PRESSURE AREA

SOLUTION
RECOVERY AREA

WATER FLOW

BLENDING AREA

40

FLOW

2 Modified Venturi Cut-Away

Foam capabilities of 60
to 200 GPM

Water flow and pressure restrictions

41

Balanced Pressure Pump System

Parts Cut-Away
Metering/Shut-off valve sets amount of
foam concentrate entering the system by
percentage selected

Ratio Controller (venturi) creates a pressure drop

allowing the foam concentrate to be pumped into the
water way
42

Balanced Pressure Pump System

Panel Controls

Duplex Pressure
Gauge

43

Balanced Pressure Pump System

Plumbing
Crowded pump compartment

Modified venturi or ratio flow

controller (one required per
discharge)
44

Balanced Pressure Accuracy Test

18
16
14
12
10

Recalibrated

8
6
4
2
0
1%

2%

45

3%

Balanced Pressure Pump System

Capabilities
FOAM SYSTEM OPERATING PARAMETERS
FOAM CONCENTRATE TYPES(S): CLASS A OR CLASS B
SYSTEM OPERATING PRESSURE RANGE: 75-200 PSI
DO NOT EXCEED 200 PSI OPERATING PRESSURE
SYSTEM PROPORTIONING AND FLOW RATES:
NOMINAL RATE
PROPORTIONER
SIZE

SOLUTION FLOW RATE (GPM)

0.3 - 1%

3%

6%

60-200

60-200

60-200

2.5

80-320

80-320

80-250

150-625

150-500

300-1250

46

Balanced Pressure Pump Proportioners

Pressure drop through venturi
GPM
0
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
47

Friction loss
0 psi
10 psi
12 psi
15 psi
20 psi
25 psi
35 psi
40 psi
55 psi
70 psi

Electronic Direct Injection

FoamPro Single Point Direct

Injection Proportioner
Digital Display Control
Foam
Tank
Line Strainer

Water
Tank

Check
Valves

Water
Pump

Flow
Meter
49

Multiple
Discharges

Multi-Point, Electronic Direct

Injection Proportioner

50

Electronic Direct Injection

Capabilities

Extremely accurate
No flow or pressure restriction
Indifferent to changes in flows and pressures
Easy to operate
Re-supply foam without interruption
Dual foam capability with automatic presets
Commences operation immediately
Ideal CAFS interface
Broad sweet spot
51

Operation
Commences operation with
the push of the RED button

Or throw of a switch

52

How Accurate?
FoamPro Model 3060 Accuracy
1000 gpm @ 200 psi
80.0
70.0
60.0

NFPA Upper Limit

50.0
40.0
30.0

Actual Injection Rate

20.0
Concentrate
Flow - GPM

Desired Injection Rate

10.0
0.0
0.5

1.0

2.0

3.0

Proportioning Rate - %

53

4.0

5.0

6.0

Flow Comparison
Balance Pressure & Electronic Direct Injection
Pipe
Size

Flow Range
Electronic Direct Injection
(Max Acc)
(Max Rng)

Bal. Press.

2"

60 - 200

15 - 520

5 - 625

2-1/2"

80 - 320

20 - 750

8 - 900

3"

150 - 625

30 - 1,150

12 - 1,380

4"

300 - 1,250

55 - 1,980

20 - 2,380

No restriction permits maximum flow

54

What To Consider-Proportioners

Required range of flows and pressures

Proportioning percentage rates
Foam capable discharges
Foam viscosity
Allowable pressure drop
Operating conditions
Hose length, elevations, etc.

Accuracy requirements
55